A federal judge is considering
whether to name an overseer for Laborers Local 210, which is said
to have ties to organized crime.

At stake is control of the
1,200-member union, which supplies workers to union contractors
in construction, demolition and asbestos work throughout western
New York.

The United States Justice Department
and Local 210's parent union want Judge Richard J. Arcara of Federal
District Court to approve an agreement naming a court liaison
officer to oversee the union for the next five years. The agreement
would end a federal civil racketeering lawsuit filed last week
against Local 210 accusing 16 people of controlling every aspect
of the local, which draws $1 million a year in dues.